Eyeshade



Patented July 1, 1941 UNITED `STI'ITES PATENT OFFICE i EYEsiIAnEy l Y i Joseph Snell, Hackensack, N. J. Application November 1,1938,seria1Ne.i2ss,24s

This invention relates to an improvement in eye shades of the type worn for the purpose of shading the eyes against glare.

No adequate provision has been made heretofore for effectively preventing perspiration from running down the forehead and vinto the eyes of a person, which is annoying and uncomfortable. Absorbent pads proposed yfor this purpose become saturated with perspiration'and have a disagreeable odor, and are unsanitary, intricate, and bothersome. l Y

The object of this invention'is to provide for effectively catching perspiration to prevent it from flowing down the forehead of the wearer beneath the shade and into the eyes. This is accomplished by the provision of a gutter or channel along the upper edge of the shade with a side thereof pressed against the forehead for directing perspiration into said channel and preventing it from seeping under the upper edge of the shade.

A further object of the invention is to provide a simple and effective manner of adjusting the size of the shade band such that it will encircle the head and provide just the proper amount of constraining pressure therearound to fit heads of different sizes and different degrees of pressure as desired. This is provided by a strip having key-hole openings therein through which a loop in the cord or band extends to catch in the openings and hold the cord or band in an adjusted position.

I have illustrated a preferred embodiment of this invention in the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective View of my improved eye shade and adjustment therefor;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view therethrough, shown applied;

Fig. 3 is a partial front elevation of the eye shade; and

Fig. 4 is a detail face View of one wall of the channel having a reinforcing strip.

The eye shade embodying this invention comprises a shade I of semi-rigid material which is preferably colored, so as to be substantially translucent or semi-transparent, although itis evident that it may be fully opaque, if desired. A material similar to Celluloid is suitable for the purpose, although it is preferred that other cellulose or like materials be used which are noninflammable.

The shade I is shown constructed of a sheet of material having a slightly curved lower edge 2, having back-turned end flaps 3, although the latter Amay be omitted and the shade I be given aV sufiicient longitudinal 4curvature to shade the eyes against lateral glare, if desired.

The upperV edge portion of the shade lI is folded upon itself to provide a longitudinal channel or gutter li, onev side of which channel terminates directly at the upper edge of the shade, while the other side of said channel` is designated 5 and has its upper edge curved, so as to bear yieldably against the forehead of the wearer,A but said wall 5 is sufficiently flexible throughout the major portion of its length as to conform snugly to the forehead, both vertically and transversely of the latter whereby not only the upper edge of said Wall 5 but also a material portion of the wall will be pressed against the forehead. In this Way, any perspiration is not permitted to ow under the shade but is directed by the upper edge portion of the wall 5 directly into the channel or gutter 4, where it is confined or permitted to iiow out of the ends thereof externally of the shade and away from the face of the wearer. The provision of this gutter or channel not only provides for receiving the perspiration, but it also reinforces the upper edge portion of the shade, making it relatively rigid while allowing the wall 5 to be bent and shaped to conform to the forehead of the wearer, and it holds the shade I at the proper angle to shade the eyes.

The wall 5 is shown in Fig. 4 as having a reinforcing strip I`4 extending therealong conforming to the curvature thereof, and anchored by rivets or eyelets 'I at the ends thereof, for stiifening this wall and preventing warping or breaking thereof.

Although any desired means may be employed for securing the shade I to the head of the wearer, I prefer to use an elastic band or cord 6, the opposite ends of which are secured as by rivets I to ears 8 formed on the opposite ends of the wall 5. The ends of the cord or band 6 are first inserted into the holes for the eyelets externally of the latter and then said eyelets are clamped in the holes which effectively se- -cures the ends of the band or cord to the shade. If either or both of these ends should pull out, they may be readily refastened by being inserted through the eyelets and tied in a knot on the forward side.

In order to adjust .the size of the band or cord 6, so as to Iit the head of the wearer with the desired friction, especially when the cord or band is made .of non-elastic material, an adjusting strip '9 may be provided with holes I Il in opposite ends thereof .through which a loop portion l I of the cord or band extends. Spaced inwardly of the respective holes III are holes I2 through which this loop portion II extends from the holes In and each of the holes I2 has a Wedge-shaped Athe band or cord B lat opposite ends of the loop I I. Thus hy pulling outward on the loop I I relative to the anchoring strip 9 and then exerting tension on the band or cord '6, the size of the latter may be adjusted readily to accommodate the sizeof the head of the wearer, because the tension'of the band 6 will fasten the latter withA the excess length thereof taken .up by the loop I I. This will be true, even lif the cord or band is constructed of non-elastic material when the pressure may be Aapplied by ,the wearer. The hole I2 and its slit I3 constitutes substantially a keyhole slot in each opposite end of the strip l9, While the adjacent hole vIll tends to direct the bend or cord kinto this key-hole slot for securely anchoring the same to the :adjusting strip '9.

l; An eye shade comprising a shade'of sheet material having the upper edge portion `thereof folded Vback upon itself to form a channel on the inner.Y side of the shade with one wall of said channel joined directly to said shade and with the opposite wall in position to bear against the forehead of the wearer to direct perspiration into said channel.

2. An eye shade comprising a shade of sheet material having the upper edge portion thereof folded hack upon itself to form a channel on the inner side of the lsl'ialde with one wall of said channel joined directly t-o said shade and with .the opposite wall in position to bear against the forehead of the wearer to direct perspiration into said channel, the last-mentioned wall having ears on opposite end-'portions thereof, and a bland or cord attached to said ears and adapted to encircle the head of .the wearer to hold the shade thereon. 3. An eye shade comprising a non-metallic flexible 'shade having a channel integral therewith and extending along the upper edge portion thereof with one wall of 4said channel secured to the shade and the opposite wall spaced therefrom in position to bear against the forehead, and a metallic reinforcing strip extending lengthwise of .the last-mentioned wall and secured thereto in flat relation thereag-ainst. Y

4. An eye shade comprising a shade of sheet material of substantial width, and means for securing said shade to the head of the wearer with the shade at an angle of approximately 45 thereto, said shade having the upper edge thereof folded and refolded upon itself forming a channel `of relatively' narrow width and sha1-low depth and only at the upper edge of the shade, said channel having the inner wall thereof in position to bear against the forehead of the wearer.

JOSEPH W. SNELL. 

